1
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Grabon W, Ruiz A, Gasmi N, Degletagne C, Georges B, Belmeguenai A, Bodennec J, Rheims S, Marcy G, Bezin L. CB2 expression in mouse brain: from mapping to regulation in microglia under inflammatory conditions. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:206. [PMID: 39160534 PMCID: PMC11334370 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03202-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 08/12/2024] [Indexed: 08/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Since its detection in the brain, the cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2) has been considered a promising therapeutic target for various neurological and psychiatric disorders. However, precise brain mapping of its expression is still lacking. Using magnetic cell sorting, calibrated RT-qPCR and single-nucleus RNAseq, we show that CB2 is expressed at a low level in all brain regions studied, mainly by few microglial cells, and by neurons in an even lower proportion. Upon lipopolysaccharide stimulation, modeling neuroinflammation in non-sterile conditions, we demonstrate that the inflammatory response is associated with a transient reduction in CB2 mRNA levels in brain tissue, particularly in microglial cells. This result, confirmed in the BV2 microglial cell line, contrasts with the positive correlation observed between CB2 mRNA levels and the inflammatory response upon stimulation by interferon-gamma, modeling neuroinflammation in sterile condition. Discrete brain CB2 expression might thus be up- or down-regulated depending on the inflammatory context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanda Grabon
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, TIGER Team, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France.
- Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France.
| | - Anne Ruiz
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, GenCyTi Platform, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Nadia Gasmi
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, TIGER Team, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France
- Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Cyril Degletagne
- Cancer Genomic Platform, Inserm 1052, CNRS 5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon (CRCL), Université de Lyon, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Béatrice Georges
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, TIGER Team, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France
- Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Amor Belmeguenai
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, TIGER Team, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France
- Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Jacques Bodennec
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, TIGER Team, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France
- Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Sylvain Rheims
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, TIGER Team, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France
- Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France
| | - Guillaume Marcy
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Bioinformatic Platform of the Labex Cortex, 69008, Lyon, France
| | - Laurent Bezin
- CNRS UMR5292, Inserm U1028, TIGER Team, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, 69500, Bron, France.
- Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 Boulevard Pinel, 69500, Bron, France.
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2
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Carruthers ER, Grimsey NL. Cannabinoid CB 2 receptor orthologues; in vitro function and perspectives for preclinical to clinical translation. Br J Pharmacol 2024; 181:2247-2269. [PMID: 37349984 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16172] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2022] [Revised: 05/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid CB2 receptor agonists are in development as therapeutic agents, including for immune modulation and pain relief. Despite promising results in rodent preclinical studies, efficacy in human clinical trials has been marginal to date. Fundamental differences in ligand engagement and signalling responses between the human CB2 receptor and preclinical model species orthologues may contribute to mismatches in functional outcomes. This is a tangible possibility for the CB2 receptor in that there is a relatively large degree of primary amino acid sequence divergence between human and rodent. Here, we summarise CB2 receptor gene and protein structure, assess comparative molecular pharmacology between CB2 receptor orthologues, and review the current status of preclinical to clinical translation for drugs targeted at the CB2 receptor, focusing on comparisons between human, mouse and rat receptors. We hope that raising wider awareness of, and proposing strategies to address, this additional challenge in drug development will assist in ongoing efforts toward successful therapeutic translation of drugs targeted at the CB2 receptor. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed issue Therapeutic Targeting of G Protein-Coupled Receptors: hot topics from the Australasian Society of Clinical and Experimental Pharmacologists and Toxicologists 2021 Virtual Annual Scientific Meeting. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v181.14/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma R Carruthers
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand
| | - Natasha L Grimsey
- Department of Pharmacology and Clinical Pharmacology, School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Centre for Brain Research, Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Auckland, Auckland, New Zealand
- Maurice Wilkins Centre for Molecular Biodiscovery, Auckland, New Zealand
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3
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Heal DJ, Gosden J, Smith SL. A critical assessment of the abuse, dependence and associated safety risks of naturally occurring and synthetic cannabinoids. Front Psychiatry 2024; 15:1322434. [PMID: 38915848 PMCID: PMC11194422 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1322434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/26/2024] Open
Abstract
Various countries and US States have legalized cannabis, and the use of the psychoactive1 and non-psychoactive cannabinoids is steadily increasing. In this review, we have collated evidence from published non-clinical and clinical sources to evaluate the abuse, dependence and associated safety risks of the individual cannabinoids present in cannabis. As context, we also evaluated various synthetic cannabinoids. The evidence shows that delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) and other psychoactive cannabinoids in cannabis have moderate reinforcing effects. Although they rapidly induce pharmacological tolerance, the withdrawal syndrome produced by the psychoactive cannabinoids in cannabis is of moderate severity and lasts from 2 to 6 days. The evidence overwhelmingly shows that non-psychoactive cannabinoids do not produce intoxicating, cognitive or rewarding properties in humans. There has been much speculation whether cannabidiol (CBD) influences the psychoactive and potentially harmful effects of Δ9-THC. Although most non-clinical and clinical investigations have shown that CBD does not attenuate the CNS effects of Δ9-THC or synthetic psychoactive cannabinoids, there is sufficient uncertainty to warrant further research. Based on the analysis, our assessment is cannabis has moderate levels of abuse and dependence risk. While the risks and harms are substantially lower than those posed by many illegal and legal substances of abuse, including tobacco and alcohol, they are far from negligible. In contrast, potent synthetic cannabinoid (CB1/CB2) receptor agonists are more reinforcing and highly intoxicating and pose a substantial risk for abuse and harm. 1 "Psychoactive" is defined as a substance that when taken or administered affects mental processes, e.g., perception, consciousness, cognition or mood and emotions.
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Affiliation(s)
- David J. Heal
- DevelRx Limited, Nottingham, United Kingdom
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
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4
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Mancini M, Calculli A, Di Martino D, Pisani A. Interplay between endocannabinoids and dopamine in the basal ganglia: implications for pain in Parkinson's disease. JOURNAL OF ANESTHESIA, ANALGESIA AND CRITICAL CARE 2024; 4:33. [PMID: 38745258 PMCID: PMC11094869 DOI: 10.1186/s44158-024-00169-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
Pain is a complex phenomenon, and basal ganglia circuitry integrates many aspects of pain including motor, emotional, autonomic, and cognitive responses. Perturbations in dopamine (DA) signaling are implicated in the pathogenesis of chronic pain due to its involvement in both pain perception and relief. Several lines of evidence support the role of endocannabinoids (eCBs) in the regulation of many electrical and chemical aspects of DAergic neuron function including excitability, synaptic transmission, integration, and plasticity. However, eCBs play an even more intricate and intimate relationship with DA, as indicated by the adaptive changes in the eCB system following DA depletion. Although the precise mechanisms underlying DA control on pain are not fully understood, given the high correlation of eCB and DAergic system, it is conceivable that eCBs may be part of these mechanisms.In this brief survey, we describe the reciprocal regulation of eCB-DA neurotransmission with a particular emphasis on the actions of eCBs on ionic and synaptic signaling in DAergic neurons mediated by CB receptors or independent on them. Furthermore, we analyze the eCB-DA imbalance which characterizes pain condition and report the implications of reduced DA levels for pain in Parkinson's disease. Lastly, we discuss the potential of the eCB-DA system in the development of future therapeutic strategies for the treatment of pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Mancini
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, c/o Mondino Foundation Via Mondino, 2, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Alessandra Calculli
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, c/o Mondino Foundation Via Mondino, 2, Pavia, 27100, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Deborah Di Martino
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, c/o Mondino Foundation Via Mondino, 2, Pavia, 27100, Italy
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, 27100, Italy
| | - Antonio Pisani
- Department of Brain and Behavioral Sciences, University of Pavia, c/o Mondino Foundation Via Mondino, 2, Pavia, 27100, Italy.
- IRCCS Mondino Foundation, Pavia, 27100, Italy.
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5
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Andersen SL. Increasing CB2 Receptor Activity after Early Life Stress Prevents Depressive Behavior in Female Rats. Biomolecules 2024; 14:464. [PMID: 38672480 PMCID: PMC11047932 DOI: 10.3390/biom14040464] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 04/07/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Early adversity, the loss of the inhibitory GABAergic interneuron parvalbumin, and elevated neuroinflammation are associated with depression. Individuals with a maltreatment history initiate medicinal cannabis use earlier in life than non-maltreated individuals, suggesting self-medication. Female rats underwent maternal separation (MS) between 2 and 20 days of age to model early adversity or served as colony controls. The prelimbic cortex and behavior were examined to determine whether MS alters the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2), which has anti-inflammatory properties. A reduction in the CB2-associated regulatory enzyme MARCH7 leading to increased NLRP3 was observed with Western immunoblots in MS females. Immunohistochemistry with stereology quantified numbers of parvalbumin-immunoreactive cells and CB2 at 25, 40, and 100 days of age, revealing that the CB2 receptor associated with PV neurons initially increases at P25 and subsequently decreases by P40 in MS animals, with no change in controls. Confocal and triple-label microscopy suggest colocalization of these CB2 receptors to microglia wrapped around the parvalbumin neuron. Depressive-like behavior in MS animals was elevated at P40 and reduced with the CB2 agonist HU-308 or a CB2-overexpressing lentivirus microinjected into the prelimbic cortex. These results suggest that increasing CB2 expression by P40 in the prelimbic cortex prevents depressive behavior in MS female rats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susan L Andersen
- Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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6
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Gobira PH, Joca SR, Moreira FA. Roles of cannabinoid CB1 and CB2 receptors in the modulation of psychostimulant responses. Acta Neuropsychiatr 2024; 36:67-77. [PMID: 35993329 DOI: 10.1017/neu.2022.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Addiction to psychostimulant drugs, such as cocaine, D-amphetamine, and methamphetamine, is a public health issue that substantially contributes to the global burden of disease. Psychostimulant drugs promote an increase in dopamine levels within the mesocorticolimbic system, which is central to the rewarding properties of such drugs. Cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R) are expressed in the main areas of this system and implicated in the neuronal mechanisms underlying the rewarding effect of psychostimulant drugs. Here, we reviewed studies focusing on pharmacological intervention targeting cannabinoid CB1R and CB2R and their interaction in the modulation of psychostimulant responses.
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Affiliation(s)
- P H Gobira
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
| | - S R Joca
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - F A Moreira
- Department of Pharmacology, Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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7
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Zhang Q, Zhao Y, Wu J, Zhong W, Huang W, Pan Y. The progress of small molecules against cannabinoid 2 receptor (CB 2R). Bioorg Chem 2024; 144:107075. [PMID: 38218067 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2023.107075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2023] [Revised: 12/03/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2024]
Abstract
The two subtypes of cannabinoid receptors (CBR), namely CB1R and CB2R, belong to the G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) superfamily and are confirmed as potential therapeutic targets for a variety of diseases such as inflammation, neuropathic pain, and immune-related disorders. Since CB1R is mainly distributed in the central nervous system (CNS), it could produce severe psychiatric adverse reactions and addiction. In contrast, CB2R are predominantly distributed in the peripheral immune system with minimal CNS-related side effects. Therefore, more attention has been devoted to the discovery of CB2R ligands. In view of the favorable profile of CB2R, many high-binding affinity and selectivity CB2R ligands have been developed recently. This paper reviews recent research progress on CB2R ligands, including endogenous CB2R ligands, natural compounds, and novel small molecules, in order to provide a reference for subsequent CB2R ligand development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ying Zhao
- Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jianan Wu
- Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | | | - Wenhai Huang
- Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
| | - Youlu Pan
- Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China.
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8
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Rodríguez-Serrano LM, Chávez-Hernández ME. Role of the CB2 Cannabinoid Receptor in the Regulation of Food Intake: A Systematic Review. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:17516. [PMID: 38139344 PMCID: PMC10743788 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242417516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
The CB2 cannabinoid receptor has been found in brain areas that are part of the reward system and has been shown to play a role in food intake regulation. Herein, we conducted a systematic review of studies assessing the role of the CB2 receptor in food intake regulation. Records from the PubMed, Scopus, and EBSCO databases were screened, resulting in 13 studies that were used in the present systematic review, following the PRISMA guidelines. A risk of bias assessment was carried out using the tool of the Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation (SYRCLE). The studies analyzed used two main strategies: (1) the intraperitoneal or intracerebroventricular administration of a CB2 agonist/antagonist; and (2) depletion of CB2 receptors via knockout in mice. Both strategies are useful in identifying the role of the CB2 receptor in food intake in standard and palatable diets. The conclusions derived from animal models showed that CB2 receptors are necessary for modulating food intake and mediating energy balance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luis Miguel Rodríguez-Serrano
- Facultad de Psicología, Universidad Anáhuac México, Universidad Anáhuac Avenue #46, Lomas Anáhuac, Huixquilucan 52786, Mexico;
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9
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Wilson G, Yang L, Su X, Ding S, Li L, Yang Y, Wang X, Wang W, Sa Y, Zhang Y, Chen J, Ma X. Exploring the therapeutic potential of natural compounds modulating the endocannabinoid system in various diseases and disorders: review. Pharmacol Rep 2023; 75:1410-1444. [PMID: 37906390 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-023-00544-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 10/07/2023] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptors, endogenous cannabinoids (endocannabinoids), and the enzymes involved in the biosynthesis and degradation of the endocannabinoids make up the endocannabinoid system (ECS). The components of the ECS are proven to modulate a vast bulk of various physiological and pathological processes due to their abundance throughout the human body. Such discoveries have attracted the researchers' attention and emerged as a potential therapeutical target for the treatment of various diseases. In the present article, we reviewed the discoveries of natural compounds, herbs, herbs formula, and their therapeutic properties in various diseases and disorders by modulating the ECS. We also summarize the molecular mechanisms through which these compounds elicit their properties by interacting with the ECS based on the existing findings. Our study provides the insight into the use of natural compounds that modulate ECS in various diseases and disorders, which in turn may facilitate future studies exploiting natural lead compounds as novel frameworks for designing more effective and safer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gidion Wilson
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Lingling Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Xiaojuan Su
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Shuqin Ding
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Liuyan Li
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Youyue Yang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Xiaoying Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Weibiao Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yuping Sa
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China
| | - Jianyu Chen
- Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No. 1, Huatuo Road, Minhoushangjie, Fuzhou, 350122, China.
| | - Xueqin Ma
- Department of Pharmaceutical Analysis, School of Pharmacy, Key Laboratory of Hui Ethnic Medicine Modernization, Ministry of Education, Ningxia Medical University, 1160 Shenli Street, Yinchuan, 750004, China.
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10
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Mohammad Aghaei A, Saali A, Canas MA, Weleff J, D'Souza DC, Angarita GA, Bassir Nia A. Dysregulation of the endogenous cannabinoid system following opioid exposure. Psychiatry Res 2023; 330:115586. [PMID: 37931479 PMCID: PMC10842415 DOI: 10.1016/j.psychres.2023.115586] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/28/2023] [Indexed: 11/08/2023]
Abstract
Rates of opioid-related deaths and overdoses in the United States are at record-high levels. Thus, novel neurobiological targets for the treatment of OUD are greatly needed. Given the close interaction between the endogenous opioid system and the endocannabinoid system (ECS), targeting the ECS may have therapeutic potential in OUD. The various components of the ECS, including cannabinoid receptors, their lipid-derived endogenous ligands (endocannabinoids [eCBs]), and the related enzymes, present potential targets for developing new medications in OUD treatment. The purpose of this paper is to review the clinical and preclinical literature on the dysregulation of the ECS after exposure to opioids. We review the evidence of ECS dysregulation across various study types, exposure protocols, and measurement protocols and summarize the evidence for dysregulation of ECS components at specific brain regions. Preclinical research has shown that opioids disrupt various ECS components that are region-specific. However, the results in the literature are highly heterogenous and sometimes contradictory, possibly due to variety of different methods used. Further research is needed before a confident conclusion could be made on how exposure to opioids can affect ECS components in various brain regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ardavan Mohammad Aghaei
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
| | - Alexandra Saali
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, United States
| | | | - Jeremy Weleff
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
| | - Deepak Cyril D'Souza
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States; VA Connecticut Healthcare System, West Haven, CT, United States
| | - Gustavo A Angarita
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States
| | - Anahita Bassir Nia
- Department of Psychiatry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06519, United States.
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11
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Berrio JP, Kalliokoski O. Rethinking data treatment: The sucrose preference threshold for anhedonia in stress-induced rat models of depression. J Neurosci Methods 2023:109910. [PMID: 37394102 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2023.109910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/04/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Exposing rats to repeated unpredictable stressors is a popular method for modelling depression. The sucrose preference test is used to assess the validity of this method, as it measures a rat´s preference for a sweet solution as an indicator of its ability to experience pleasure. Typically, if stressed rats show a lower preference compared to unstressed rats, it is concluded they are experiencing stress-induced anhedonia. METHODS While conducting a systematic review, we identified 18 studies that used thresholds to define anhedonia and to distinguish "susceptible" from "resilient" individuals. Based on their definitions, researchers either excluded "resilient" animals from further analyses or treated them as a separate cohort. We performed a descriptive analysis to understand the rationale behind these criteria. RESULTS we found that the methods used for characterizing the stressed rats were largely unsupported. Many authors failed to justify their choices or relied exclusively on referencing previous studies. When tracing back the method to its origins, we converged on a pioneering article that, although employed as a universal evidence-based justification, cannot be regarded as such. What is more, through a simulation study, we provided evidence that removing or splitting data, based on an arbitrary threshold, introduces statistical bias by overestimating the effect of stress. CONCLUSION Caution must be exercised when implementing a predefined cut-off for anhedonia. Researchers should be aware of potential biases introduced by their data treatment strategies and strive for transparent reporting of methodological decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny P Berrio
- Department of Experimental Medicine. Section of Research and Education. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. University of Copenhagen. Blegdamsvej 3, Building 16.1; 2200 Copenhagen N. Denmark.
| | - Otto Kalliokoski
- Department of Experimental Medicine. Section of Research and Education. Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. University of Copenhagen. Blegdamsvej 3, Building 16.1; 2200 Copenhagen N. Denmark
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12
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Grabon W, Rheims S, Smith J, Bodennec J, Belmeguenai A, Bezin L. CB2 receptor in the CNS: from immune and neuronal modulation to behavior. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2023; 150:105226. [PMID: 37164044 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2023.105226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Revised: 03/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/06/2023] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Despite low levels of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R) expression in the central nervous system in human and rodents, a growing body of evidence shows CB2R involvement in many processes at the behavioral level, through both immune and neuronal modulations. Recent in vitro and in vivo evidence have highlighted the complex role of CB2R under physiological and inflammatory conditions. Under neuroinflammatory states, its activation seems to protect the brain and its functions, making it a promising target in a wide range of neurological disorders. Here, we provide a complete and updated overview of CB2R function in the central nervous system of rodents, spanning from modulation of immune function in microglia but also in other cell types, to behavior and neuronal activity, in both physiological and neuroinflammatory contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanda Grabon
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, U10208 UMR5292, TIGER Team - F-69500 Bron, France; Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 boulevard Pinel - F-69500 Bron, France.
| | - Sylvain Rheims
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, U10208 UMR5292, TIGER Team - F-69500 Bron, France; Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 boulevard Pinel - F-69500 Bron, France; Department of Functional Neurology and Epileptology, Hospices Civils de Lyon - France
| | - Jonathon Smith
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, U10208 UMR5292, TIGER Team - F-69500 Bron, France; Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 boulevard Pinel - F-69500 Bron, France
| | - Jacques Bodennec
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, U10208 UMR5292, TIGER Team - F-69500 Bron, France; Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 boulevard Pinel - F-69500 Bron, France
| | - Amor Belmeguenai
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, U10208 UMR5292, TIGER Team - F-69500 Bron, France; Epilepsy Institute IDEE, 59 boulevard Pinel - F-69500 Bron, France
| | - Laurent Bezin
- Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, CNRS, Inserm, Centre de Recherche en Neurosciences de Lyon, U10208 UMR5292, TIGER Team - F-69500 Bron, France.
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13
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Oscoz-Irurozqui M, Almodóvar-Payá C, Guardiola-Ripoll M, Guerrero-Pedraza A, Hostalet N, Salvador R, Carrión MI, Maristany T, Pomarol-Clotet E, Fatjó-Vilas M. Cannabis Use and Endocannabinoid Receptor Genes: A Pilot Study on Their Interaction on Brain Activity in First-Episode Psychosis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24087501. [PMID: 37108689 PMCID: PMC10142622 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24087501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2023] [Revised: 04/04/2023] [Accepted: 04/06/2023] [Indexed: 04/29/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of both cannabis use and genetic background has been shown in the risk for psychosis. However, the effect of the interplay between cannabis and variability at the endocannabinoid receptor genes on the neurobiological underpinnings of psychosis remains inconclusive. Through a case-only design, including patients with a first-episode of psychosis (n = 40) classified as cannabis users (50%) and non-users (50%), we aimed to evaluate the interaction between cannabis use and common genetic variants at the endocannabinoid receptor genes on brain activity. Genetic variability was assessed by genotyping two Single Nucleotide Polymorphisms (SNP) at the cannabinoid receptor type 1 gene (CNR1; rs1049353) and cannabinoid receptor type 2 gene (CNR2; rs2501431). Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging (fMRI) data were obtained while performing the n-back task. Gene × cannabis interaction models evidenced a combined effect of CNR1 and CNR2 genotypes and cannabis use on brain activity in different brain areas, such as the caudate nucleus, the cingulate cortex and the orbitofrontal cortex. These findings suggest a joint role of cannabis use and cannabinoid receptor genetic background on brain function in first-episode psychosis, possibly through the impact on brain areas relevant to the reward circuit.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maitane Oscoz-Irurozqui
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Salud Mental Errenteria-Osakidetza, Av Galtzaraborda 69-75, 20100 Errenteria, Guipúzcoa, Spain
| | - Carmen Almodóvar-Payá
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Maria Guardiola-Ripoll
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Amalia Guerrero-Pedraza
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Hospital Benito Menni CASM, C/Doctor Antoni Pujadas 38, 08830 Sant Boi de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Noemí Hostalet
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Raymond Salvador
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Teresa Maristany
- Diagnostic Imaging Department, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu Research Foundation, Passeig de Sant Joan de Déu, 2, 08950 Esplugues de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Edith Pomarol-Clotet
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Mar Fatjó-Vilas
- FIDMAG Germanes Hospitalàries Research Foundation, Av Jordà 8, 08035 Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Salud Mental (CIBERSAM), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Av Monforte de Lemos, 3-5, Pabellón 11, Planta 0, 28029 Madrid, Spain
- Departament de Biologia Evolutiva, Ecologia i Ciències Ambientals, Facultat de Biologia, Universitat de Barcelona, Avinguda Diagonal, 643, 08028 Barcelona, Spain
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14
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Endocannabinoid System: Chemical Characteristics and Biological Activity. Pharmaceuticals (Basel) 2023; 16:ph16020148. [PMID: 37017445 PMCID: PMC9966761 DOI: 10.3390/ph16020148] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 01/13/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The endocannabinoid system (eCB) has been studied to identify the molecular structures present in Cannabis sativa. eCB consists of cannabinoid receptors, endogenous ligands, and the associated enzymatic apparatus responsible for maintaining energy homeostasis and cognitive processes. Several physiological effects of cannabinoids are exerted through interactions with various receptors, such as CB1 and CB2 receptors, vanilloid receptors, and the recently discovered G-protein-coupled receptors (GPR55, GPR3, GPR6, GPR12, and GPR19). Anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidoylglycerol (2-AG), two small lipids derived from arachidonic acid, showed high-affinity binding to both CB1 and CB2 receptors. eCB plays a critical role in chronic pain and mood disorders and has been extensively studied because of its wide therapeutic potential and because it is a promising target for the development of new drugs. Phytocannabinoids and synthetic cannabinoids have shown varied affinities for eCB and are relevant to the treatment of several neurological diseases. This review provides a description of eCB components and discusses how phytocannabinoids and other exogenous compounds may regulate the eCB balance. Furthermore, we show the hypo- or hyperfunctionality of eCB in the body and how eCB is related to chronic pain and mood disorders, even with integrative and complementary health practices (ICHP) harmonizing the eCB.
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15
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Grabon W, Bodennec J, Rheims S, Belmeguenai A, Bezin L. Update on the controversial identity of cells expressing cnr2 gene in the nervous system. CNS Neurosci Ther 2023; 29:760-770. [PMID: 36604187 PMCID: PMC9928557 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The function of cannabinoid receptor type 2 (CB2R), mainly expressed by leukocytes, has long been limited to its peripheral immunomodulatory role. However, the use of CB2R-specific ligands and the availability of CB2R-Knock Out mice revealed that it could play a functional role in the CNS not only under physiological but also under pathological conditions. A direct effect on the nervous system emerged when CB2R mRNA was detected in neural tissues. However, accurate mapping of CB2R protein expression in the nervous system is still lacking, partly because of the lack of specificity of antibodies available. This review examines the regions and cells of the nervous system where CB2R protein is most likely present by cross-referencing mRNA and protein data published to date. Of the many antibodies developed to target CB2R, only a few have partially passed specificity tests and detected CB2R in the CNS. Efforts must be continued to support the development of more specific and better validated antibodies in each of the species in which CB2R protein is sought or needs to be quantified.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanda Grabon
- Lyon Neuroscience Research CenterTIGER TeamBronFrance,Lyon 1 UniversityCNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028VilleurbanneFrance,Epilepsy Institute IDEEBronFrance
| | - Jacques Bodennec
- Lyon Neuroscience Research CenterTIGER TeamBronFrance,Lyon 1 UniversityCNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028VilleurbanneFrance,Epilepsy Institute IDEEBronFrance
| | - Sylvain Rheims
- Lyon Neuroscience Research CenterTIGER TeamBronFrance,Lyon 1 UniversityCNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028VilleurbanneFrance,Epilepsy Institute IDEEBronFrance
| | - Amor Belmeguenai
- Lyon Neuroscience Research CenterTIGER TeamBronFrance,Lyon 1 UniversityCNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028VilleurbanneFrance,Epilepsy Institute IDEEBronFrance
| | - Laurent Bezin
- Lyon Neuroscience Research CenterTIGER TeamBronFrance,Lyon 1 UniversityCNRS UMR 5292, Inserm U1028VilleurbanneFrance,Epilepsy Institute IDEEBronFrance
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16
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Dos Santos Barbosa LA, Dutra RC, Moreira ELG, de Carvalho CR. β-caryophyllene, a cannabinoid receptor 2 agonist, decreases the motivational salience and conditioning place preference for palatable food in female mice. Addict Biol 2023; 28:e13249. [PMID: 36577722 DOI: 10.1111/adb.13249] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
β-caryophyllene (BCP) is a cannabinoid receptor CB2 agonist plant-derived terpenoid found in different essential oil plants, including rosemary, black pepper, copaiba and cannabis. It has GRAS (generally recognized as safe) status and is approved by the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) for food use. BCP displays agonist activity on the CB2 receptor and is a potential therapeutic target in several neuropsychiatric disorders, including anxiety and drug addiction. Unlike CB1 receptors, activation of the CB2 receptors is devoid of psychotomimetic and addictive properties. In this regard, this study aimed to evaluate the effects of BCP on incentive salience ("wanting") performance and motivational properties elicited by sweetened palatable foods in female Swiss mice. After 9 days of training for incentive salience performance for a sweet reward (hazelnut cream with chocolate), food-restricted mice received a systemic injection of BCP (50 and 100 mg/kg) before testing over 3 days. Moreover, independent groups of female mice were tested on sweet reward-induced conditioned place preference (CPP) for 22 consecutive days. To evaluate BCP effects on the expression of seeking behaviour for sweetened food, mice received a single intraperitoneal injection of BCP (50 mg/kg) 30 min before testing on the CPP task. BCP significantly decreased the incentive performance for a sweet reward compared with the control group in a CB2 receptor-dependent manner. Also, BCP suppressed the expression of sweet reward-CPP. Altogether, these preclinical data demonstrate the potential role of BCP in treating disorders associated with food addiction-like behaviour.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Rafael Cypriano Dutra
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil.,Laboratório de Autoimunidade e Imunofarmacologia (LAIF), Departamento de Ciências da Saúde, Campus Araranguá, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Araranguá, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Luiz Gasnhar Moreira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil.,Departamento de Ciências Fisiológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Cristiane Ribeiro de Carvalho
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Neurociências, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina (UFSC), Florianópolis, Brazil.,Departamento de Patologia, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
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17
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Neutral CB1 Receptor Antagonists as Pharmacotherapies for Substance Use Disorders: Rationale, Evidence, and Challenge. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203262. [PMID: 36291128 PMCID: PMC9600259 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203262] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2022] [Revised: 10/03/2022] [Accepted: 10/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) has been one of the major targets in medication development for treating substance use disorders (SUDs). Early studies indicated that rimonabant, a selective CB1R antagonist with an inverse agonist profile, was highly promising as a therapeutic for SUDs. However, its adverse side effects, such as depression and suicidality, led to its withdrawal from clinical trials worldwide in 2008. Consequently, much research interest shifted to developing neutral CB1R antagonists based on the recognition that rimonabant’s side effects may be related to its inverse agonist profile. In this article, we first review rimonabant’s research background as a potential pharmacotherapy for SUDs. Then, we discuss the possible mechanisms underlying its therapeutic anti-addictive effects versus its adverse effects. Lastly, we discuss the rationale for developing neutral CB1R antagonists as potential treatments for SUDs, the supporting evidence in recent research, and the challenges of this strategy. We conclude that developing neutral CB1R antagonists without inverse agonist profile may represent attractive strategies for the treatment of SUDs.
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18
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Marinelli S, Marrone MC, Di Domenico M, Marinelli S. Endocannabinoid signaling in microglia. Glia 2022; 71:71-90. [PMID: 36222019 DOI: 10.1002/glia.24281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
Microglia, the innate immune cells of the central nervous system (CNS), execute their sentinel, housekeeping and defense functions through a panoply of genes, receptors and released cytokines, chemokines and neurotrophic factors. Moreover, microglia functions are closely linked to the constant communication with other cell types, among them neurons. Depending on the signaling pathway and type of stimuli involved, the outcome of microglia operation can be neuroprotective or neurodegenerative. Accordingly, microglia are increasingly becoming considered cellular targets for therapeutic intervention. Among signals controlling microglia activity, the endocannabinoid (EC) system has been shown to exert a neuroprotective role in many neurological diseases. Like neurons, microglia express functional EC receptors and can produce and degrade ECs. Interestingly, boosting EC signaling leads to an anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective microglia phenotype. Nonetheless, little evidence is available on the microglia-mediated therapeutic effects of EC compounds. This review focuses on the EC signals acting on the CNS microglia in physiological and pathological conditions, namely on the CB1R, CB2R and TRPV1-mediated regulation of microglia properties. It also provides new evidence, which strengthens the understanding of mechanisms underlying the control of microglia functions by ECs. Given the broad expression of the EC system in glial and neuronal cells, the resulting picture is the need for in vivo studies in transgenic mouse models to dissect the contribution of EC microglia signaling in the neuroprotective effects of EC-derived compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara Marinelli
- CNR-National Research Council, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Cristina Marrone
- EBRI-Fondazione Rita Levi Montalcini, Rome, Italy.,Ministry of University and Research, Mission Unity for Recovery and Resilience Plan, Rome, Italy
| | - Marina Di Domenico
- EBRI-Fondazione Rita Levi Montalcini, Rome, Italy.,Bio@SNS Laboratory, Scuola Normale Superiore, Pisa, Italy
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19
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Ferranti AS, Foster DJ. Cannabinoid type-2 receptors: An emerging target for regulating schizophrenia-relevant brain circuits. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:925792. [PMID: 36033626 PMCID: PMC9403189 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.925792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Although the cannabinoid type-2 receptor (CB2) is highly expressed in the immune system, emerging evidence points to CB2 playing a key role in regulating neuronal function in the central nervous system. Recent anatomical studies, combined with electrophysiological studies, indicate that CB2 receptors are expressed in specific dopaminergic and glutamatergic brain circuits that are hyperactive in schizophrenia patients. The ability of CB2 receptors to inhibit dopaminergic and hippocampal circuits, combined with the anti-inflammatory effects of CB2 receptor activation, make this receptor an intriguing target for treating schizophrenia, a disease where novel interventions that move beyond dopamine receptor antagonists are desperately needed. The development of new CB2-related pharmacological and genetic tools, including the first small molecule positive allosteric modulator of CB2 receptors, has greatly advanced our understanding of this receptor. While more work is needed to further elucidate the translational value of selectively targeting CB2 receptors with respect to schizophrenia, the studies discussed below could suggest that CB2 receptors are anatomically located in schizophrenia-relevant circuits, where the physiological consequence of CB2 receptor activation could correct circuit-based deficits commonly associated with positive and cognitive deficits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony S. Ferranti
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
- Warren Center for Neuroscience Drug Discovery, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, United States
| | - Daniel J. Foster
- Department of Pharmacology, Physiology and Neuroscience, University of South Carolina School of Medicine, Columbia, SC, United States
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20
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Involvement of the ghrelin system in the maintenance and reinstatement of cocaine-motivated behaviors: a role of adrenergic action at peripheral β1 receptors. Neuropsychopharmacology 2022; 47:1449-1460. [PMID: 34923576 PMCID: PMC9206024 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-021-01249-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 11/22/2021] [Accepted: 11/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Cocaine addiction is a significant medical and public concern. Despite decades of research effort, development of pharmacotherapy for cocaine use disorder remains largely unsuccessful. This may be partially due to insufficient understanding of the complex biological mechanisms involved in the pathophysiology of this disorder. In the present study, we show that: (1) elevation of ghrelin by cocaine plays a critical role in maintenance of cocaine self-administration and cocaine-seeking motivated by cocaine-conditioned stimuli; (2) acquisition of cocaine-taking behavior is associated with the acquisition of stimulatory effects of cocaine by cocaine-conditioned stimuli on ghrelin secretion, and with an upregulation of ghrelin receptor mRNA levels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA); (3) blockade of ghrelin signaling by pretreatment with JMV2959, a selective ghrelin receptor antagonist, dose-dependently inhibits reinstatement of cocaine-seeking triggered by either cocaine or yohimbine in behaviorally extinguished animals with a history of cocaine self-administration; (4) JMV2959 pretreatment also inhibits brain stimulation reward (BSR) and cocaine-potentiated BSR maintained by optogenetic stimulation of VTA dopamine neurons in DAT-Cre mice; (5) blockade of peripheral adrenergic β1 receptors by atenolol potently attenuates the elevation in circulating ghrelin induced by cocaine and inhibits cocaine self-administration and cocaine reinstatement triggered by cocaine. These findings demonstrate that the endogenous ghrelin system plays an important role in cocaine-related addictive behaviors and suggest that manipulating and targeting this system may be viable for mitigating cocaine use disorder.
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21
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Zhang HY, De Biase L, Chandra R, Shen H, Liu QR, Gardner E, Lobo MK, Xi ZX. Repeated cocaine administration upregulates CB 2 receptor expression in striatal medium-spiny neurons that express dopamine D 1 receptors in mice. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2022; 43:876-888. [PMID: 34316031 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-021-00712-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Accepted: 06/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoid CB2 receptors (CB2R) are importantly involved in drug reward and addiction. However, the cellular mechanisms underlying CB2R action remain unclear. We have previously reported that cocaine self-administration upregulates CB2R expression in midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons. In the present study, we investigated whether cocaine or heroin also alters CB2R expression in striatal medium-spiny neurons that express dopamine D1 or D2 receptors (D1-MSNs, D2-MSNs) and microglia. Due to the concern of CB2R antibody specificity, we developed three mouse CB2-specific probes to detect CB2R mRNA using quantitative RT-PCR and RNAscope in situ hybridization (ISH) assays. We found that a single injection of cocaine failed to alter, while repeated cocaine injections or self-administration dose-dependently upregulated CB2R gene expression in both brain (cortex and striatum) and periphery (spleen). In contrast, repeated administration of heroin produced a dose-dependent reduction in striatal CB2 mRNA expression. RNAscope ISH assays detected CB2R mRNA in striatal D1- and D2-MSNs, not in microglia. We then used transgenic CX3CR1eGFP/+ microglia reporter mice and D1- or D2-Cre-RiboTag mice to purify striatal microglia or ribosome-associated mRNAs from CX3CR1eGFP/+, D1-MSNs, or D2-MSNs, respectively. We found that CB2R upregulation occurred mainly in D1-MSNs, not in D2-MSNs or microglia, in the nucleus accumbens rather than the dorsal striatum. These findings indicate that repeated cocaine exposure may upregulate CB2R expression in both brain and spleen, with regional and cell type-specific profiles. In the striatum, CB2R upregulation occurs mainly in D1-MSNs in the nucleus accumbens. Given the important role of D1-MSNs in brain reward function, the present findings provide new insight into mechanisms by which brain CB2Rs modulate cocaine action.
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22
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Wang M, Liu H, Ma Z. Roles of the Cannabinoid System in the Basal Ganglia in Parkinson’s Disease. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:832854. [PMID: 35264932 PMCID: PMC8900732 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.832854] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2021] [Accepted: 01/31/2022] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disease usually caused by neuroinflammation, oxidative stress and other etiologies. Recent studies have found that the cannabinoid system present in the basal ganglia has a strong influence on the progression of PD. Altering the cannabinoid receptor activation status by modulating endogenous cannabinoid (eCB) levels can exert an anti-movement disorder effect. Therefore, the development of drugs that modulate the endocannabinoid system may be a novel strategy for the treatment of PD. However, eCB regulation is complex, with diverse cannabinoid receptor functions and the presence of dopaminergic, glutamatergic, and γ-aminobutyric signals interacting with cannabinoid signaling in the basal ganglia region. Therefore, the study of eCB is challenging. Here, we have described the function of the cannabinoid system in the basal ganglia and its association with PD in three parts (eCBs, cannabinoid receptors, and factors regulating the cannabinoid metabolism) and summarized the mechanisms of action related to the cannabinoid analogs currently aimed at treating PD. The shortcomings identified from previous studies and the directions that should be explored in the future will provide insights into new approaches and ideas for the future development of cannabinoid-based drugs and the treatment of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengya Wang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Huayuan Liu
- Department of Hepatobiliary Surgery, The Affiliated Qingdao Municipal Hospital of Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Zegang Ma
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic Medicine, Institute of Brain Science and Disorders, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
- *Correspondence: Zegang Ma,
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23
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Liu QR, Aseer KR, Yao Q, Zhong X, Ghosh P, O’Connell JF, Egan JM. Anti-Inflammatory and Pro-Autophagy Effects of the Cannabinoid Receptor CB2R: Possibility of Modulation in Type 1 Diabetes. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:809965. [PMID: 35115945 PMCID: PMC8804091 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.809965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) is an autoimmune disease resulting from loss of insulin-secreting β-cells in islets of Langerhans. The loss of β-cells is initiated when self-tolerance to β-cell-derived contents breaks down, which leads to T cell-mediated β-cell damage and, ultimately, β-cell apoptosis. Many investigations have demonstrated the positive effects of antagonizing cannabinoid receptor 1 (CB1R) in metabolic diseases such as fatty liver disease, obesity, and diabetes mellitus, but the role of cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) in such diseases is relatively unknown. Activation of CB2R is known for its immunosuppressive roles in multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s, celiac, and lupus diseases, and since autoimmune diseases can share common environmental and genetic factors, we propose CB2R specific agonists may also serve as disease modifiers in diabetes mellitus. The CNR2 gene, which encodes CB2R protein, is the result of a gene duplication of CNR1, which encodes CB1R protein. This ortholog evolved rapidly after transitioning from invertebrates to vertebrate hundreds of million years ago. Human specific CNR2 isoforms are induced by inflammation in pancreatic islets, and a CNR2 nonsynonymous SNP (Q63R) is associated with autoimmune diseases. We collected evidence from the literature and from our own studies demonstrating that CB2R is involved in regulating the inflammasome and especially release of the cytokine interleukin 1B (IL-1β). Furthermore, CB2R activation controls intracellular autophagy and may regulate secretion of extracellular vesicles from adipocytes that participate in recycling of lipid droplets, dysregulation of which induces chronic inflammation and obesity. CB2R activation may play a similar role in islets of Langerhans. Here, we will discuss future strategies to unravel what roles, if any, CB2R modifiers potentially play in T1DM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Rong Liu
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Qing-Rong Liu, ; Josephine M. Egan,
| | - Kanikkai Raja Aseer
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Qin Yao
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Xiaoming Zhong
- Ben May Department for Cancer Research, The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL, United States
| | - Paritosh Ghosh
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Jennifer F. O’Connell
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Josephine M. Egan
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, NIH, Baltimore, MD, United States
- *Correspondence: Qing-Rong Liu, ; Josephine M. Egan,
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24
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Functional Selectivity of Coumarin Derivates Acting via GPR55 in Neuroinflammation. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23020959. [PMID: 35055142 PMCID: PMC8779649 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23020959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2021] [Revised: 01/09/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Anti-neuroinflammatory treatment has gained importance in the search for pharmacological treatments of different neurological and psychiatric diseases, such as depression, schizophrenia, Parkinson’s disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Clinical studies demonstrate a reduction of the mentioned diseases’ symptoms after the administration of anti-inflammatory drugs. Novel coumarin derivates have been shown to elicit anti-neuroinflammatory effects via G-protein coupled receptor GPR55, with possibly reduced side-effects compared to the known anti-inflammatory drugs. In this study, we, therefore, evaluated the anti-inflammatory capacities of the two novel coumarin-based compounds, KIT C and KIT H, in human neuroblastoma cells and primary murine microglia. Both compounds reduced PGE2-concentrations likely via the inhibition of COX-2 synthesis in SK-N-SH cells but only KIT C decreased PGE2-levels in primary microglia. The examination of other pro- and anti-inflammatory parameters showed varying effects of both compounds. Therefore, the differences in the effects of KIT C and KIT H might be explained by functional selectivity as well as tissue- or cell-dependent expression and signal pathways coupled to GPR55. Understanding the role of chemical residues in functional selectivity and specific cell- and tissue-targeting might open new therapeutic options in pharmacological drug development and might improve the treatment of the mentioned diseases by intervening in an early step of their pathogenesis.
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Castro J, Garcia-Caraballo S, Maddern J, Schober G, Lumsden A, Harrington A, Schmiel S, Lindstrom B, Adams J, Brierley SM. Olorinab (APD371), a peripherally acting, highly selective, full agonist of the cannabinoid receptor 2, reduces colitis-induced acute and chronic visceral hypersensitivity in rodents. Pain 2022; 163:e72-e86. [PMID: 33863856 PMCID: PMC8675055 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/02/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT Abdominal pain is a key symptom of inflammatory bowel disease and irritable bowel syndrome, for which there are inadequate therapeutic options. We tested whether olorinab-a highly selective, full agonist of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2)-reduced visceral hypersensitivity in models of colitis and chronic visceral hypersensitivity (CVH). In rodents, colitis was induced by intrarectal administration of nitrobenzene sulfonic acid derivatives. Control or colitis animals were administered vehicle or olorinab (3 or 30 mg/kg) twice daily by oral gavage for 5 days, starting 1 day before colitis induction. Chronic visceral hypersensitivity mice were administered olorinab (1, 3, 10, or 30 mg/kg) twice daily by oral gavage for 5 days, starting 24 days after colitis induction. Visceral mechanosensitivity was assessed in vivo by quantifying visceromotor responses (VMRs) to colorectal distension. Ex vivo afferent recordings determined colonic nociceptor firing evoked by mechanical stimuli. Colitis and CVH animals displayed significantly elevated VMRs to colorectal distension and colonic nociceptor hypersensitivity. Olorinab treatment significantly reduced VMRs to control levels in colitis and CVH animals. In addition, olorinab reduced nociceptor hypersensitivity in colitis and CVH states in a concentration- and CB2-dependent manner. By contrast, olorinab did not alter VMRs nor nociceptor responsiveness in control animals. Cannabinoid receptor 2 mRNA was detected in colonic tissue, particularly within epithelial cells, and dorsal root ganglia, with no significant differences between healthy, colitis, and CVH states. These results demonstrate that olorinab reduces visceral hypersensitivity through CB2 agonism in animal models, suggesting that olorinab may provide a novel therapy for inflammatory bowel disease- and irritable bowel syndrome-associated abdominal pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joel Castro
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Sonia Garcia-Caraballo
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jessica Maddern
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Gudrun Schober
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Amanda Lumsden
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Andrea Harrington
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Shirdi Schmiel
- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
| | | | - John Adams
- Arena Pharmaceuticals, Inc, San Diego, CA, United States
| | - Stuart M. Brierley
- Visceral Pain Research Group, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute (FHMRI), Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
- Hopwood Centre for Neurobiology, Lifelong Health Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute (SAHMRI), North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Discipline of Medicine, University of Adelaide, North Terrace, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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Hempel B, Xi ZX. Receptor mechanisms underlying the CNS effects of cannabinoids: CB 1 receptor and beyond. ADVANCES IN PHARMACOLOGY (SAN DIEGO, CALIF.) 2021; 93:275-333. [PMID: 35341569 PMCID: PMC10709991 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apha.2021.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Cannabis legalization continues to progress in many US states and other countries. Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the major psychoactive constituent in cannabis underlying both its abuse potential and the majority of therapeutic applications. However, the neural mechanisms underlying cannabis action are not fully understood. In this chapter, we first review recent progress in cannabinoid receptor research, and then examine the acute CNS effects of Δ9-THC or other cannabinoids (WIN55212-2) with a focus on their receptor mechanisms. In experimental animals, Δ9-THC or WIN55212-2 produces classical pharmacological effects (analgesia, catalepsy, hypothermia, hypolocomotion), biphasic changes in affect (reward vs. aversion, anxiety vs. anxiety relief), and cognitive deficits (spatial learning and memory, short-term memory). Accumulating evidence indicates that activation of CB1Rs underlies the majority of Δ9-THC or WIN55121-2's pharmacological and behavioral effects. Unexpectedly, glutamatergic CB1Rs preferentially underlie cannabis action relative to GABAergic CB1Rs. Functional roles for CB1Rs expressed on astrocytes and mitochondria have also been uncovered. In addition, Δ9-THC or WIN55212-2 is an agonist at CB2R, GPR55 and PPARγ receptors and recent studies implicate these receptors in a number of their CNS effects. Other receptors (such as serotonin, opioid, and adenosine receptors) also modulate Δ9-THC's actions and their contributions are detailed. This chapter describes the neural mechanisms underlying cannabis action, which may lead to new discoveries in cannabis-based medication development for the treatment of cannabis use disorder and other human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Briana Hempel
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, United States.
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Gish A, Wiart JF, Turpin E, Allorge D, Gaulier JM. État de l’art et intérêt des dosages plasmatiques des substances endocannabinoïdes et endocannabinoïdes-like. TOXICOLOGIE ANALYTIQUE ET CLINIQUE 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.toxac.2021.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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Rapaka D, Bitra VR, Challa SR, Adiukwu PC. Potentiation of microglial endocannabinoid signaling alleviates neuroinflammation in Alzheimer's disease. Neuropeptides 2021; 90:102196. [PMID: 34508923 DOI: 10.1016/j.npep.2021.102196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 08/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) isaprogressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by chronic inflammation due to the presence of neurotoxic Aβ and tau proteins. Increased microglial activation and inflated immune response are the other factors to be considered in AD pathology. Microglial cells own biochemical machinery that synthesizes and release endocannabinoids. The exploitation of therapeutic actions of endocannabinoid system has newly emerged in the field of Alzheimer's disease. The activation of cannabinoid receptors/ cannabinoid system modulates inflammatory responses. This review assesses the association between the microglial endocannabinoid system and neuroinflammation in AD. The data supporting the anti-inflammatory role of pharmacological agents modulating cannabinoid system are also reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepthi Rapaka
- A.U. College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Andhra University, Visakhapatnam 530003, India.
| | | | - Siva Reddy Challa
- Department of Cancer Biology and Pharmacology, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Peoria, IL 61614, USA
| | - Paul C Adiukwu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Botswana, P/Bag-0022, Gaborone, Botswana
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Major Phytocannabinoids and Their Related Compounds: Should We Only Search for Drugs That Act on Cannabinoid Receptors? Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:pharmaceutics13111823. [PMID: 34834237 PMCID: PMC8625816 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13111823] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2021] [Revised: 10/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The most important discoveries in pharmacology, such as certain classes of analgesics or chemotherapeutics, started from natural extracts which have been found to have effects in traditional medicine. Cannabis, traditionally used in Asia for the treatment of pain, nausea, spasms, sleep, depression, and low appetite, is still a good candidate for the development of new compounds. If initially all attention was directed to the endocannabinoid system, recent studies suggest that many of the clinically proven effects are based on an intrinsic chain of mechanisms that do not necessarily involve only cannabinoid receptors. Recent research has shown that major phytocannabinoids and their derivatives also interact with non-cannabinoid receptors such as vanilloid receptor 1, transient receptor ankyrin 1 potential, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor-gamma or glitazone receptor, G55 protein-coupled receptor, and nuclear receptor, producing pharmacological effects in diseases such as Alzheimer's, epilepsy, depression, neuropathic pain, cancer, and diabetes. Nonetheless, further studies are needed to elucidate the precise mechanisms of these compounds. Structure modulation of phytocannabinoids, in order to improve pharmacological effects, should not be limited to the exploration of cannabinoid receptors, and it should target other courses of action discovered through recent research.
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Rigoni D, Avalos MP, Boezio MJ, Guzmán AS, Calfa GD, Perassi EM, Pierotti SM, Bisbal M, Garcia-Keller C, Cancela LM, Bollati F. Stress-induced vulnerability to develop cocaine addiction depends on cofilin modulation. Neurobiol Stress 2021; 15:100349. [PMID: 34169122 PMCID: PMC8209265 DOI: 10.1016/j.ynstr.2021.100349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2020] [Revised: 05/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Actin dynamics in dendritic spines can be associated with the neurobiological mechanisms supporting the comorbidity between stress exposure and cocaine increase rewards. The actin cytoskeleton remodeling in the nucleus accumbens (NA) has been implicated in the expression of stress-induced cross-sensitization with cocaine. The present study evaluates the involvement of cofilin, a direct regulator of actin dynamics, in the impact of stress on vulnerability to cocaine addiction. We assess whether the neurobiological mechanisms that modulate repeated-cocaine administration also occur in a chronic restraint stress-induced cocaine self-administration model. We also determine if chronic stress induces alterations in dendritic spines through dysregulation of cofilin activity in the NA core. Here, we show that the inhibition of cofilin expression in the NA core using viral short-hairpin RNA is sufficient to prevent the cocaine sensitization induced by chronic stress. The reduced cofilin levels also impede a-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionic acid (AMPA) receptor surface expression enhancement and promote the reduction of head diameter in animals pre-exposed to stress after a cocaine challenge in the NA core. Moreover, downregulation of cofilin expression prevents facilitation of the acquisition of cocaine self-administration (SA) in male rats pre-exposed to chronic stress without modifying performance in sucrose SA. These findings reveal a novel, crucial role for cofilin in the neurobiological mechanisms underpinning the comorbidity between stress exposure and addiction-related disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daiana Rigoni
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria P. Avalos
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Maria J. Boezio
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Andrea S. Guzmán
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Gaston D. Calfa
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Eduardo M. Perassi
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Fisicoquímica de Córdoba (INFIQC), Departamento de Química Teórica y Computacional, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Silvia M. Pierotti
- Cátedra de Bioestadística I y II (Departamento de Matemática), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas Físicas y Naturales, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Avenida Velez Sarfield 161, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Mariano Bisbal
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martin Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Friuli 2434, Colinas de Vélez Sarsfield (5016) Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Constanza Garcia-Keller
- Department of Neuroscience, Medical University of South Carolina, 173 Ashley Avenue, Charleston, SC, 29425, USA
| | - Liliana M. Cancela
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Flavia Bollati
- Instituto de Farmacología Experimental de Córdoba (IFEC-CONICET), Departamento de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Haya de la Torre and Medina Allende, Ciudad Universitaria, (5000), Córdoba, Argentina
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Navarrete F, García-Gutiérrez MS, Gasparyan A, Navarro D, Manzanares J. CB2 Receptor Involvement in the Treatment of Substance Use Disorders. Biomolecules 2021; 11:1556. [PMID: 34827554 PMCID: PMC8615453 DOI: 10.3390/biom11111556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The pharmacological modulation of the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2r) has emerged as a promising potential therapeutic option in addiction. The purpose of this review was to determine the functional involvement of CB2r in the effects produced by drugs of abuse at the central nervous system (CNS) level by assessing evidence from preclinical and clinical studies. In rodents, several reports suggest the functional involvement of CB2r in the effects produced by drugs of abuse such as alcohol, cocaine, or nicotine. In addition, the discovery of CB2r in brain areas that are part of the reward system supports the relevance of CB2r in the field of addiction. Interestingly, animal studies support that the CB2r regulates anxiety and depression behavioral traits. Due to its frequent comorbidity with neuropsychiatric disorders, these pharmacological actions may be of great interest in managing SUD. Preliminary clinical trials are focused on exploring the therapeutic potential of modulating CB2r in treating addictive disorders. These promising results support the development of new pharmacological tools regulating the CB2r that may help to increase the therapeutic success in the management of SUD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco Navarrete
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.)
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - María S. García-Gutiérrez
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.)
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Ani Gasparyan
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.)
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Daniela Navarro
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.)
| | - Jorge Manzanares
- Instituto de Neurociencias, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Avda. de Ramón y Cajal s/n, San Juan de Alicante, 03550 Alicante, Spain; (F.N.); (M.S.G.-G.); (A.G.); (D.N.)
- Red Temática de Investigación Cooperativa en Salud (RETICS), Red de Trastornos Adictivos, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, MICINN and FEDER, 28029 Madrid, Spain
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Komorowska-Müller JA, Rana T, Olabiyi BF, Zimmer A, Schmöle AC. Cannabinoid Receptor 2 Alters Social Memory and Microglial Activity in an Age-Dependent Manner. Molecules 2021; 26:5984. [PMID: 34641528 PMCID: PMC8513097 DOI: 10.3390/molecules26195984] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Physiological brain aging is characterized by gradual, substantial changes in cognitive ability, accompanied by chronic activation of the neural immune system. This form of inflammation, termed inflammaging, in the central nervous system is primarily enacted through microglia, the resident immune cells. The endocannabinoid system, and particularly the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R), is a major regulator of the activity of microglia and is upregulated under inflammatory conditions. Here, we elucidated the role of the CB2R in physiological brain aging. We used CB2R-/- mice of progressive ages in a behavioral test battery to assess social and spatial learning and memory. This was followed by detailed immunohistochemical analysis of microglial activity and morphology, and of the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the hippocampus. CB2R deletion decreased social memory in young mice, but did not affect spatial memory. In fact, old CB2R-/- mice had a slightly improved social memory, whereas in WT mice we detected an age-related cognitive decline. On a cellular level, CB2R deletion increased lipofuscin accumulation in microglia, but not in neurons. CB2R-/- microglia showed an increase of activity markers Iba1 and CD68, and minor upregulation in tnfa and il6 expression and downregulation of ccl2 with age. This was accompanied by a change in morphology as CB2R-/- microglia had smaller somas and lower polarity, with increased branching, cell volume, and tree length. We present that CB2Rs are involved in cognition and age-induced microglial activity, but may also be important for microglial activation itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Agnieszka Komorowska-Müller
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (J.A.K.-M.); (T.R.); (B.F.O.); (A.-C.S.)
- International Max Planck Research School for Brain and Behavior, Ludwig-Erhard-Allee 2, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Tanushka Rana
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (J.A.K.-M.); (T.R.); (B.F.O.); (A.-C.S.)
| | - Bolanle Fatimat Olabiyi
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (J.A.K.-M.); (T.R.); (B.F.O.); (A.-C.S.)
| | - Andreas Zimmer
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (J.A.K.-M.); (T.R.); (B.F.O.); (A.-C.S.)
| | - Anne-Caroline Schmöle
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Germany; (J.A.K.-M.); (T.R.); (B.F.O.); (A.-C.S.)
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He XH, Galaj E, Bi GH, He Y, Hempel B, Wang YL, Gardner EL, Xi ZX. β-caryophyllene, an FDA-Approved Food Additive, Inhibits Methamphetamine-Taking and Methamphetamine-Seeking Behaviors Possibly via CB2 and Non-CB2 Receptor Mechanisms. Front Pharmacol 2021; 12:722476. [PMID: 34566647 PMCID: PMC8458938 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.722476] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent research indicates that brain cannabinoid CB2 receptors are involved in drug reward and addiction. However, it is unclear whether β-caryophyllene (BCP), a natural product with a CB2 receptor agonist profile, has therapeutic effects on methamphetamine (METH) abuse and dependence. In this study, we used animal models of self-administration, electrical brain-stimulation reward (BSR) and in vivo microdialysis to explore the effects of BCP on METH-taking and METH-seeking behavior. We found that systemic administration of BCP dose-dependently inhibited METH self-administration under both fixed-ratio and progressive-ratio reinforcement schedules in rats, indicating that BCP reduces METH reward, METH intake, and incentive motivation to seek and take METH. The attenuating effects of BCP were partially blocked by AM 630, a selective CB2 receptor antagonist. Genetic deletion of CB2 receptors in CB2-knockout (CB2-KO) mice also blocked low dose BCP-induced reduction in METH self-administration, suggesting possible involvement of a CB2 receptor mechanism. However, at high doses, BCP produced a reduction in METH self-administration in CB2-KO mice in a manner similar as in WT mice, suggesting that non-CB2 receptor mechanisms underlie high dose BCP-produced effects. In addition, BCP dose-dependently attenuated METH-enhanced electrical BSR and inhibited METH-primed and cue-induced reinstatement of drug-seeking in rats. In vivo microdialysis assays indicated that BCP alone did not produce a significant reduction in extracellular dopamine (DA) in the nucleus accumbens (NAc), while BCP pretreatment significantly reduced METH-induced increases in extracellular NAc DA in a dose-dependent manner, suggesting a DA-dependent mechanism involved in BCP action. Together, the present findings suggest that BCP might be a promising therapeutic candidate for the treatment of METH use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiang-Hu He
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States.,Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China
| | - Ewa Galaj
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yi He
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Briana Hempel
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Yan-Lin Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Hubei, China
| | - Eliot L Gardner
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, United States
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Cabañero D, Martín-García E, Maldonado R. The CB2 cannabinoid receptor as a therapeutic target in the central nervous system. Expert Opin Ther Targets 2021; 25:659-676. [PMID: 34424117 DOI: 10.1080/14728222.2021.1971196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Targeting CB2 cannabinoid receptor (CB2r) represents a promising approach for the treatment of central nervous system disorders. These receptors were identified in peripheral tissues, but also in neurons in the central nervous system. New findings have highlighted the interest to target these central receptors to obtain therapeutic effects devoid of the classical cannabinoid side-effects. AREAS COVERED In this review, we searched PubMed (January 1991-May 2021), ClinicalTrials.gov and Cochrane Library databases for articles, reviews and clinical trials. We first introduce the relevance of CB2r as a key component of the endocannabinoid system. We discuss CB2r interest as a possible novel target in the treatment of pain. This receptor has raised interest as a potential target for neurodegenerative disorders treatment, as we then discussed. Finally, we underline studies revealing a novel potential CB2r interest in mental disorders treatment. EXPERT OPINION In spite of the interest of targeting CB2r for pain, clinical trials evaluating CB2r agonist analgesic efficacy have currently failed. The preferential involvement of CB2r in preventing the development of chronic pain could influence the failure of clinical trials designed for the treatment of already established pain syndromes. Specific trials should be designed to target the prevention of chronic pain development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David Cabañero
- Institute of Research, Development and Innovation in Healthcare Biotechnology of Elche (IDiBE), Universidad Miguel Hernández. Elche, Alicante, Spain
| | - Elena Martín-García
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.,IMIM (Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Rafael Maldonado
- Neuropharmacology Laboratory, Department of Experimental and Health Sciences, Pompeu Fabra University, Barcelona, Spain.,IMIM (Hospital Del Mar Medical Research Institute), Barcelona, Spain
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Komorowska-Müller JA, Ravichandran KA, Zimmer A, Schürmann B. Cannabinoid receptor 2 deletion influences social memory and synaptic architecture in the hippocampus. Sci Rep 2021; 11:16828. [PMID: 34413398 PMCID: PMC8376893 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-96285-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the cannabinoid receptor 2 (CB2R) is often thought to play a role mainly outside the brain several publications unequivocally showed the presence of CB2R on hippocampal principal neurons. Activation of CB2R produced a long-lasting membrane potential hyperpolarization, altered the input/output function of CA2/3 principal neurons and produced alterations in gamma oscillations. However, other cellular, molecular and behavioral consequences of hippocampal CB2R signaling have not been studied in detail. Here we demonstrate that the deletion of CB2 leads to a highly significant increase in hippocampal synapsin-I expression levels and particle density, as well as increased vesicular GABA transporter (vGAT) levels. This phenotype was restricted to females and not observed in males. Furthermore, we demonstrate an impairment of social memory in CB2 deficient mice. Our results thus demonstrate that the lack of CB2R leads to changes in the hippocampal synaptic landscape and reveals an important sex-specific difference in endocannabinoid signaling. This study supports a significant role of the CB2R in modulation of different types of memory despite its low expression levels in the brain and provides more insight into a sex-specific role of CB2R in synaptic architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Agnieszka Komorowska-Müller
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Bldg. 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Kishore Aravind Ravichandran
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Bldg. 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Andreas Zimmer
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Bldg. 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Britta Schürmann
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Bonn, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, Bldg. 76, 53127, Bonn, Germany
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Hashiesh HM, Jha NK, Sharma C, Gupta PK, Jha SK, Patil CR, Goyal SN, Ojha SK. Pharmacological potential of JWH133, a cannabinoid type 2 receptor agonist in neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric diseases. Eur J Pharmacol 2021; 909:174398. [PMID: 34332924 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejphar.2021.174398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
The pharmacological activation of cannabinoid type 2 receptors (CB2R) gained attention due to its ability to mitigate neuroinflammatory events without eliciting psychotropic actions, a limiting factor for the drugs targeting cannabinoid type 1 receptors (CB1R). Therefore, ligands activating CB2R are receiving enormous importance for therapeutic targeting in numerous neurological diseases including neurodegenerative, neuropsychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorders as well as traumatic injuries and neuropathic pain where neuroinflammation is a common accompaniment. Since the characterization of CB2R, many CB2R selective synthetic ligands have been developed with high selectivity and functional activity. Among numerous ligands, JWH133 has been found one of the compounds with high selectivity for CB2R. JWH133 has been reported to exhibit numerous pharmacological activities including antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anticancer, cardioprotective, hepatoprotective, gastroprotective, nephroprotective, and immunomodulatory. Recent studies have shown that JWH133 possesses potent neuroprotective properties in several neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain, anxiety, epilepsy, depression, alcoholism, psychosis, stroke, and neurodegeneration. Additionally, JWH133 showed to protect neurons from oxidative damage and inflammation, promote neuronal survival and neurogenesis, and serve as an immunomodulatory agent. The present review comprehensively examined neuropharmacological activities of JWH133 in neurological disorders including neurodegenerative, neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric using synoptic tables and elucidated pharmacological mechanisms based on reported observations. Considering the cumulative data, JWH133 appears to be a promising CB2R agonist molecule for further evaluation and it can be a prototype agent in drug discovery and development for a unique class of agents in neurotherapeutics. Further, regulatory toxicology and pharmacokinetic studies are required to determine safety and proceed for clinical evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hebaallah Mamdouh Hashiesh
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box - 17666, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Niraj Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Charu Sharma
- Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box - 17666, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Piyush Kumar Gupta
- Department of Life Science, School of Basic Sciences and Research, Sharda University, Greater Noida, 201310, Uttar Pradesh, India
| | - Saurabh Kumar Jha
- Department of Biotechnology, School of Engineering and Technology, Sharda University, Greater Noida, Uttar Pradesh, 201310, India
| | - Chandragouda R Patil
- Department of Pharmacology, Delhi Pharmaceutical Sciences & Research University, Pushp Vihar, New Delhi, 110017, India
| | - Sameer N Goyal
- Shri Vile Parle Kelavani Mandal's Institute of Pharmacy, Dhule, 424001, Maharashtra, India
| | - Shreesh K Ojha
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, PO Box - 17666, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.
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Finn DP, Haroutounian S, Hohmann AG, Krane E, Soliman N, Rice ASC. Cannabinoids, the endocannabinoid system, and pain: a review of preclinical studies. Pain 2021; 162:S5-S25. [PMID: 33729211 PMCID: PMC8819673 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT This narrative review represents an output from the International Association for the Study of Pain's global task force on the use of cannabis, cannabinoids, and cannabis-based medicines for pain management, informed by our companion systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical studies in this area. Our aims in this review are (1) to describe the value of studying cannabinoids and endogenous cannabinoid (endocannabinoid) system modulators in preclinical/animal models of pain; (2) to discuss both pain-related efficacy and additional pain-relevant effects (adverse and beneficial) of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system modulators as they pertain to animal models of pathological or injury-related persistent pain; and (3) to identify important directions for future research. In service of these goals, this review (1) provides an overview of the endocannabinoid system and the pharmacology of cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system modulators, with specific relevance to animal models of pathological or injury-related persistent pain; (2) describes pharmacokinetics of cannabinoids in rodents and humans; and (3) highlights differences and discrepancies between preclinical and clinical studies in this area. Preclinical (rodent) models have advanced our understanding of the underlying sites and mechanisms of action of cannabinoids and the endocannabinoid system in suppressing nociceptive signaling and behaviors. We conclude that substantial evidence from animal models supports the contention that cannabinoids and endocannabinoid system modulators hold considerable promise for analgesic drug development, although the challenge of translating this knowledge into clinically useful medicines is not to be underestimated.
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Affiliation(s)
- David P Finn
- Pharmacology and Therapeutics, School of Medicine, Galway Neuroscience Centre and Centre for Pain Research, Human Biology Building, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway, Ireland
| | - Simon Haroutounian
- Department of Anesthesiology and Washington University Pain Center, Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Andrea G Hohmann
- Psychological and Brain Sciences, Program in Neuroscience, and Gill Center for Biomolecular Science, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN, USA
| | - Elliot Krane
- Departments of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, & Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Nadia Soliman
- Pain Research, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
| | - Andrew SC Rice
- Pain Research, Department of Surgery & Cancer, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK
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Vaseghi S, Arjmandi-Rad S, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. Cannabinoids and sleep-wake cycle: The potential role of serotonin. Behav Brain Res 2021; 412:113440. [PMID: 34216647 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2021.113440] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cannabis sativa (Marijuana) has a long history as a medicinal plant and Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) is the most active component in this plant. Cannabinoids are interesting compounds with various modulatory effects on physiological processes and cognitive functions. The use of cannabinoids is a double-edged sword, because they induce both adverse and therapeutic properties. One of the most important roles of cannabinoids is modulating sleep-wake cycle. Sleep, its cycle, and its mechanism are highly unknown. Also, the effects of cannabinoids on sleep-wake cycle are so inconsistent. Thus, understanding the role of cannabinoids in modulating sleep-wake cycle is a critical scientific goal. Cannabinoids interact with many neurotransmitter systems. In this review article, we chose serotonin due to its important role in regulating sleep-wake cycle. We found that the interaction between cannabinoids and serotonergic signaling especially in the dorsal raphe is extensive, unknown, and controversial.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran.
| | - Shirin Arjmandi-Rad
- Institute for Cognitive & Brain Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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Ghosh S, Stansak K, Walters BJ. Cannabinoid Signaling in Auditory Function and Development. Front Mol Neurosci 2021; 14:678510. [PMID: 34079440 PMCID: PMC8165240 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2021.678510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Plants of the genus Cannabis have been used by humans for millennia for a variety of purposes. Perhaps most notable is the use of certain Cannabis strains for their psychoactive effects. More recently, several biologically active molecules within the plants of these Cannabis strains, called phytocannabinoids or simply cannabinoids, have been identified. Furthermore, within human cells, endogenous cannabinoids, or endocannabinoids, as well as the receptors and secondary messengers that give rise to their neuromodulatory effects, have also been characterized. This endocannabinoid system (ECS) is composed of two primary ligands-anandamide and 2-arachidonyl glycerol; two primary receptors-cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2; and several enzymes involved in biosynthesis and degradation of endocannabinoid ligands including diacylglycerol lipase (DAGL) and monoacylglycerol lipase (MAGL). Here we briefly summarize cannabinoid signaling and review what has been discerned to date with regard to cannabinoid signaling in the auditory system and its roles in normal physiological function as well as pathological conditions. While much has been uncovered regarding cannabinoid signaling in the central nervous system, less attention has been paid to the auditory system specifically. Still, evidence is emerging to suggest that cannabinoid signaling is critical for the development, maturation, function, and survival of cochlear hair cells (HCs) and spiral ganglion neurons (SGNs). Furthermore, cannabinoid signaling can have profound effects on synaptic connectivity in CNS structures related to auditory processing. While clinical cases demonstrate that endogenous and exogenous cannabinoids impact auditory function, this review highlights several areas, such as SGN development, where more research is warranted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sumana Ghosh
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Kendra Stansak
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
| | - Bradley J Walters
- Department of Neurobiology and Anatomical Sciences, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.,Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States
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40
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Zhang HY, Shen H, Gao M, Ma Z, Hempel BJ, Bi GH, Gardner EL, Wu J, Xi ZX. Cannabinoid CB 2 receptors are expressed in glutamate neurons in the red nucleus and functionally modulate motor behavior in mice. Neuropharmacology 2021; 189:108538. [PMID: 33789118 PMCID: PMC8122071 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2021.108538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Cannabinoids produce a number of central nervous system effects via the CB2 receptor (CB2R), including analgesia, antianxiety, anti-reward, hypoactivity and attenuation of opioid-induced respiratory depression. However, the cellular distributions of the CB2Rs in the brain remain unclear. We have reported that CB2Rs are expressed in midbrain dopamine (DA) neurons and functionally regulate DA-mediated behavior(s). Unexpectedly, high densities of CB2-like signaling were also found in a neighboring motor structure - the red nucleus (RN) of the midbrain. In the present study, we systematically explored CB2R expression and function in the RN. Immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization assays showed high densities of CB2R-immunostaining and mRNA signal in RN magnocellular glutamate neurons in wildtype and CB1-knockout, but not CB2-knockout, mice. Ex vivo electrophysiological recordings in midbrain slices demonstrated that CB2R activation by JWH133 dose-dependently inhibited firing rates of RN magnocellular neurons in wildtype, but not CB2-knockout, mice, while having no effect on RN GABA neurons in transgenic GAD67-GFP reporter mice, suggesting CB2-mediated effects on glutamatergic neurons. In addition, microinjection of JWH133 into the RN produced robust ipsilateral rotations in wildtype, but not CB2-knockout mice, which was blocked by pretreatment with either a CB2 or DA D1 or D2 receptor antagonist, suggesting a DA-dependent effect. Finally, fluorescent tract tracing revealed glutamatergic projections from the RN to multiple brain areas including the ventral tegmental area, thalamus, and cerebellum. These findings suggest that CB2Rs in RN glutamate neurons functionally modulate motor activity, and therefore, constitute a new target in cannabis-based medication development for motor disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Ying Zhang
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Hui Shen
- Synaptic Plasticity Section, Cellular Neurobiology Research Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Ming Gao
- Department of Neurobiology, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA
| | - Zegang Ma
- Institute of Brain Science and Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China
| | - Briana J Hempel
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Eliot L Gardner
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Jie Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, St. Joseph's Hospital and Medical Center, Barrow Neurological Institute, Phoenix, AZ, 85013, USA; Institute of Brain Science and Diseases, Qingdao University, Qingdao, Shandong, 266071, China.
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Galaj E, Bi GH, Moore A, Chen K, He Y, Gardner E, Xi ZX. Beta-caryophyllene inhibits cocaine addiction-related behavior by activation of PPARα and PPARγ: repurposing a FDA-approved food additive for cocaine use disorder. Neuropsychopharmacology 2021; 46:860-870. [PMID: 33069159 PMCID: PMC8026612 DOI: 10.1038/s41386-020-00885-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 09/15/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine abuse continues to be a serious health problem worldwide. Despite intense research, there is still no FDA-approved medication to treat cocaine use disorder (CUD). In this report, we explored the potential utility of beta-caryophyllene (BCP), an FDA-approved food additive for the treatment of CUD. We found that BCP, when administered intraperitoneally or intragastrically, dose-dependently attenuated cocaine self-administration, cocaine-conditioned place preference, and cocaine-primed reinstatement of drug seeking in rats. In contrast, BCP failed to alter food self-administration or cocaine-induced hyperactivity. It also failed to maintain self-administration in a drug substitution test, suggesting that BCP has no abuse potential. BCP was previously reported to be a selective CB2 receptor agonist. Unexpectedly, pharmacological blockade or genetic deletion of CB1, CB2, or GPR55 receptors in gene-knockout mice failed to alter BCP's action against cocaine self-administration, suggesting the involvement of non-CB1, non-CB2, and non-GPR55 receptor mechanisms. Furthermore, pharmacological blockade of μ opioid receptor or Toll-like receptors complex failed to alter, while blockade of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARα, PPARγ) reversed BCP-induced reduction in cocaine self-administration, suggesting the involvement of PPARα and PPARγ in BCP's action. Finally, we used electrical and optogenetic intracranial self-stimulation (eICSS, oICSS) paradigms to study the underlying neural substrate mechanisms. We found that BCP is more effective in attenuation of cocaine-enhanced oICSS than eICSS, the former driven by optical activation of midbrain dopamine neurons in DAT-cre mice. These findings indicate that BCP may be useful for the treatment of CUD, likely by stimulation of PPARα and PPARγ in the mesolimbic system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ewa Galaj
- grid.420090.f0000 0004 0533 7147Addiction Biology Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- grid.420090.f0000 0004 0533 7147Addiction Biology Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA
| | - Allamar Moore
- grid.420090.f0000 0004 0533 7147Neuropychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA
| | - Kai Chen
- grid.420090.f0000 0004 0533 7147Addiction Biology Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA ,grid.413247.7Present Address: Department of Anesthesiology, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei 430071 China
| | - Yi He
- grid.420090.f0000 0004 0533 7147Addiction Biology Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA ,grid.21925.3d0000 0004 1936 9000Present Address: Department of Neuroscience, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260 USA
| | - Eliot Gardner
- grid.420090.f0000 0004 0533 7147Neuropychopharmacology Section, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD 21224 USA
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Intramural Research Program, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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Li X, Hempel BJ, Yang HJ, Han X, Bi GH, Gardner EL, Xi ZX. Dissecting the role of CB 1 and CB 2 receptors in cannabinoid reward versus aversion using transgenic CB 1- and CB 2-knockout mice. Eur Neuropsychopharmacol 2021; 43:38-51. [PMID: 33334652 PMCID: PMC7854511 DOI: 10.1016/j.euroneuro.2020.11.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Cannabinoids produce both rewarding and aversive effects in humans and experimental animals. However, the mechanisms underlying these conflicting findings are unclear. Here we examined the potential involvement of CB1 and CB2 receptors in cannabinoid action using transgenic CB1-knockout (CB1-KO) and CB2-knockout (CB2-KO) mice. We found that Δ9-tetrahydrocannabinol (Δ9-THC) induced conditioned place preference at a low dose (1 mg/kg) in WT mice that was attenuated by deletion of the CB1 receptor. At 5 mg/kg, no subjective effects of Δ9-THC were detected in WT mice, but CB1-KO mice exhibited a trend towards place aversion and CB2-KO mice developed significant place preferences. This data suggests that activation of the CB1 receptor is rewarding, while CB2R activation is aversive. We then examined the nucleus accumbens (NAc) dopamine (DA) response to Δ9-THC using in vivo microdialysis. Unexpectedly, Δ9-THC produced a dose-dependent decrease in extracellular DA in WT mice, that was potentiated in CB1-KO mice. However, in CB2-KO mice Δ9-THC produced a dose-dependent increase in extracellular DA, suggesting that activation of the CB2R inhibits DA release in the NAc. In contrast, Δ9-THC, when administered systemically or locally into the NAc, failed to alter extracellular DA in rats. Lastly, we examined the locomotor response to Δ9-THC. Both CB1 and CB2 receptor mechanisms were shown to underlie Δ9-THC-induced hypolocomotion. These findings indicate that Δ9-THC's variable subjective effects reflect differential activation of cannabinoid receptors. Specifically, the opposing actions of CB1 and CB2 receptors regulate cannabis reward and aversion, with CB2-mediated effects predominant in mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, 251 Bayview Blvd, NIDA IRP, BRC Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA; Department of Psychiatry, School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Briana J Hempel
- Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, 251 Bayview Blvd, NIDA IRP, BRC Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Hong-Ju Yang
- Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, 251 Bayview Blvd, NIDA IRP, BRC Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Xiao Han
- Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, 251 Bayview Blvd, NIDA IRP, BRC Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, 251 Bayview Blvd, NIDA IRP, BRC Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Eliot L Gardner
- Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, 251 Bayview Blvd, NIDA IRP, BRC Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Molecular Targets and Medication Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, 251 Bayview Blvd, NIDA IRP, BRC Suite 200, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA.
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43
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Komorowska-Müller JA, Schmöle AC. CB2 Receptor in Microglia: The Guardian of Self-Control. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 22:E19. [PMID: 33375006 PMCID: PMC7792761 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22010019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Microglia are key to maintaining the homeostasis of the brain. These immune cells of the brain can be our biggest ally in fighting infections, but can worsen pathology or hinder recovery when uncontrolled. Thus, understanding how microglia contribute to neuroinflammatory processes and how their activity can be controlled is of great importance. It is known that activation of endocannabinoid system, and especially the cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R), decreases inflammation. Alongside its non-psychoactive effect, it makes the CB2R receptor a perfect target for treating diseases accompanied by neuroinflammation including neurodegenerative diseases. However, the exact mechanisms by which CB2R regulates microglial activity are not yet understood. Here, we review the current knowledge on the roles of microglial CB2R from in vitro and in vivo studies. We look into CB2R function under physiological and pathological conditions and focus on four different disease models representing chronic and acute inflammation. We highlight open questions and controversies and provide an update on the latest discoveries that were enabled by the development of novel technologies. Also, we discuss the recent findings on the role of microglia CB2R in cognition and its role in neuron-microglia communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanna Agnieszka Komorowska-Müller
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany;
- International Max Planck Research School for Brain and Behavior, University of Bonn, 53175 Bonn, Germany
| | - Anne-Caroline Schmöle
- Institute for Molecular Psychiatry, Medical Faculty, University of Bonn, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127 Bonn, Germany;
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Mohammadkhani A, Borgland SL. Cellular and behavioral basis of cannabinioid and opioid interactions: Implications for opioid dependence and withdrawal. J Neurosci Res 2020; 100:278-296. [PMID: 33352618 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
The brain's endogenous opioid and endocannabinoid systems are neuromodulatory of synaptic transmission, and play key roles in pain, memory, reward, and addiction. Recent clinical and pre-clinical evidence suggests that opioid use may be reduced with cannabinoid intake. This suggests the presence of a functional interaction between these two systems. Emerging research indicates that cannabinoids and opioids can functionally interact at different levels. At the cellular level, opioid and cannabinoids can have direct receptor associations, alterations in endogenous opioid peptide or cannabinoid release, or post-receptor activation interactions via shared signal transduction pathways. At the systems level, the nature of cannabinoid and opioid interaction might differ in brain circuits underlying different behavioral phenomenon, including reward-seeking or antinociception. Given the rising use of opioid and cannabinoid drugs, a better understanding of how these endogenous signaling systems interact in the brain is of significant interest. This review focuses on the potential relationship of these neural systems in addiction-related processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aida Mohammadkhani
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Stephanie L Borgland
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Hotchkiss Brain Institute, The University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
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Liu QR, Canseco-Alba A, Liang Y, Ishiguro H, Onaivi ES. Low Basal CB2R in Dopamine Neurons and Microglia Influences Cannabinoid Tetrad Effects. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E9763. [PMID: 33371336 PMCID: PMC7767340 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21249763] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2020] [Revised: 12/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
There are two well-characterized cannabinoid receptors (CB1R and CB2R and other candidates): the central nervous system (CNS) enriched CB1R and peripheral tissue enriched CB2R with a wide dynamic range of expression levels in different cell types of human tissues. Hepatocytes and neurons express low baseline CB1R and CB2R, respectively, and their cell-type-specific functions are not well defined. Here we report inducible expression of CB1R in the liver by high-fat and high sugar diet and CB2R in cortical neurons by methamphetamine. While there is less controversy about hepatocyte CB1R, the presence of functional neuronal CB2R is still debated to date. We found that neuron CB2R basal expression was higher than that of hepatocyte CB1R by measuring mRNA levels of specific isoform CB2A in neurons isolated by fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS) and CB1A in hepatocytes isolated by collagenase perfusion of liver. For in vivo studies, we generated hepatocyte, dopaminergic neuron, and microglia-specific conditional knockout mice (Abl-Cnr1Δ, Dat-Cnr2Δ, and Cx3cr1-Cnr2Δ) of CB1R and CB2R by crossing Cnr1f/f and Cnr2f/f strains to Abl-Cre, Dat-Cre, and Cx3cr1-Cre deleter mouse strains, respectively. Our data reveals that neuron and microglia CB2Rs are involved in the "tetrad" effects of the mixed agonist WIN 55212-2, CB1R selective agonist arachidonyl-2'-chloroethylamide (ACEA), and CB2R selective agonist JWH133. Dat-Cnr2Δ and Cx3cr1-Cnr2Δ mice showed genotypic differences in hypomobility, hypothermia, analgesia, and catalepsy induced by the synthetic cannabinoids. Alcohol conditioned place preference was abolished in DAT-Cnr2Δ mice and remained intact in Cx3cr1-Cnr2Δ mice in comparison to WT mice. These Cre-loxP recombinant mouse lines provide unique approaches in cannabinoid research for dissecting the complex endocannabinoid system that is implicated in many chronic disorders.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Behavior, Animal/drug effects
- Cannabinoids/pharmacology
- Dopaminergic Neurons/drug effects
- Dopaminergic Neurons/metabolism
- Male
- Mice
- Mice, Inbred C57BL
- Mice, Knockout
- Microglia/drug effects
- Microglia/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB1/physiology
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/genetics
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/metabolism
- Receptor, Cannabinoid, CB2/physiology
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Rong Liu
- Laboratory of Clinical Investigation, National Institute on Aging, Baltimore, MD 21224, USA
| | - Ana Canseco-Alba
- Department of Biology, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470, USA;
| | - Ying Liang
- College of Food Science and Engineering, Central South University of Forestry and Technology, Changsha 410004, Hunan, China;
| | - Hiroki Ishiguro
- Department of Neuropsychiatry, Graduate School of Medical Science, University of Yamanashi, Chuo, Yamanashi 409-3898, Japan;
| | - Emmanuel S. Onaivi
- Department of Biology, William Paterson University, Wayne, NJ 07470, USA;
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46
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The impact of cannabinoid type 2 receptors (CB2Rs) in neuroprotection against neurological disorders. Acta Pharmacol Sin 2020; 41:1507-1518. [PMID: 33024239 DOI: 10.1038/s41401-020-00530-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabinoids have long been used for their psychotropic and possible medical properties of symptom relief. In the past few years, a vast literature shows that cannabinoids are neuroprotective under different pathological situations. Most of the effects of cannabinoids are mediated by the well-characterized cannabinoid receptors, the cannabinoid type 1 receptor (CB1R) and cannabinoid type 2 receptor (CB2R). Even though CB1Rs are highly expressed in the central nervous system (CNS), the adverse central side effects and the development of tolerance resulting from CB1R activation may ultimately limit the clinical utility of CB1R agonists. In contrast to the ubiquitous presence of CB1Rs, CB2Rs are less commonly expressed in the healthy CNS but highly upregulated in glial cells under neuropathological conditions. Experimental studies have provided robust evidence that CB2Rs seem to be involved in the modulation of different neurological disorders. In this paper, we summarize the current knowledge regarding the protective effects of CB2R activation against the development of neurological diseases and provide a perspective on the future of this field. A better understanding of the fundamental pharmacology of CB2R activation is essential for the development of clinical applications and the design of novel therapeutic strategies.
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Perin P, Mabou Tagne A, Enrico P, Marino F, Cosentino M, Pizzala R, Boselli C. Cannabinoids, Inner Ear, Hearing, and Tinnitus: A Neuroimmunological Perspective. Front Neurol 2020; 11:505995. [PMID: 33329293 PMCID: PMC7719758 DOI: 10.3389/fneur.2020.505995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cannabis has been used for centuries for recreational and therapeutic purposes. Whereas, the recreative uses are based on the psychotropic effect of some of its compounds, its therapeutic effects range over a wide spectrum of actions, most of which target the brain or the immune system. Several studies have found cannabinoid receptors in the auditory system, both at peripheral and central levels, thus raising the interest in cannabinoid signaling in hearing, and especially in tinnitus, which is affected also by anxiety, memory, and attention circuits where cannabinoid effects are well described. Available studies on animal models of tinnitus suggest that cannabinoids are not likely to be helpful in tinnitus treatment and could even be harmful. However, the pharmacology of cannabinoids is very complex, and most studies focused on neural CB1R-based responses. Cannabinoid effects on the immune system (where CB2Rs predominate) are increasingly recognized as essential in understanding nervous system pathological responses, and data on immune cannabinoid targets have emerged in the auditory system as well. In addition, nonclassical cannabinoid targets (such as TRP channels) appear to play an important role in the auditory system as well. This review will focus on neuroimmunological mechanisms for cannabinoid effects and their possible use as protective and therapeutic agents in the ear and auditory system, especially in tinnitus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paola Perin
- Department of Brain and Behavioural Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | | | | | | | | | - Roberto Pizzala
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Cinzia Boselli
- Department of Drug Sciences, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
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Vaseghi S, Nasehi M, Zarrindast MR. How do stupendous cannabinoids modulate memory processing via affecting neurotransmitter systems? Neurosci Biobehav Rev 2020; 120:173-221. [PMID: 33171142 DOI: 10.1016/j.neubiorev.2020.10.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Revised: 10/17/2020] [Accepted: 10/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
In the present study, we wanted to review the role of cannabinoids in learning and memory in animal models, with respect to their interaction effects with six principal neurotransmitters involved in learning and memory including dopamine, glutamate, GABA (γ-aminobutyric acid), serotonin, acetylcholine, and noradrenaline. Cannabinoids induce a wide-range of unpredictable effects on cognitive functions, while their mechanisms are not fully understood. Cannabinoids in different brain regions and in interaction with different neurotransmitters, show diverse responses. Previous findings have shown that cannabinoids agonists and antagonists induce various unpredictable effects such as similar effect, paradoxical effect, or dualistic effect. It should not be forgotten that brain neurotransmitter systems can also play unpredictable roles in mediating cognitive functions. Thus, we aimed to review and discuss the effect of cannabinoids in interaction with neurotransmitters on learning and memory. In addition, we mentioned to the type of interactions between cannabinoids and neurotransmitter systems. We suggested that investigating the type of interactions is a critical neuropharmacological issue that should be considered in future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Salar Vaseghi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran; Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran
| | - Mohammad Nasehi
- Cognitive and Neuroscience Research Center (CNRC), Amir-Almomenin Hospital, Tehran Medical Sciences, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Mohammad-Reza Zarrindast
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Institute for Cognitive Science Studies (ICSS), Tehran, Iran; Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
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49
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Haspula D, Clark MA. Cannabinoid Receptors: An Update on Cell Signaling, Pathophysiological Roles and Therapeutic Opportunities in Neurological, Cardiovascular, and Inflammatory Diseases. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E7693. [PMID: 33080916 PMCID: PMC7590033 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21207693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 10/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of the human cannabinoid receptors and their roles in health and disease, has been one of the most significant biochemical and pharmacological advancements to have occurred in the past few decades. In spite of the major strides made in furthering endocannabinoid research, therapeutic exploitation of the endocannabinoid system has often been a challenging task. An impaired endocannabinoid tone often manifests as changes in expression and/or functions of type 1 and/or type 2 cannabinoid receptors. It becomes important to understand how alterations in cannabinoid receptor cellular signaling can lead to disruptions in major physiological and biological functions, as they are often associated with the pathogenesis of several neurological, cardiovascular, metabolic, and inflammatory diseases. This review focusses mostly on the pathophysiological roles of type 1 and type 2 cannabinoid receptors, and it attempts to integrate both cellular and physiological functions of the cannabinoid receptors. Apart from an updated review of pre-clinical and clinical studies, the adequacy/inadequacy of cannabinoid-based therapeutics in various pathological conditions is also highlighted. Finally, alternative strategies to modulate endocannabinoid tone, and future directions are also emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dhanush Haspula
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA;
| | - Michelle A. Clark
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, College of Pharmacy, Nova Southeastern University, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33314, USA
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50
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Jordan CJ, Feng ZW, Galaj E, Bi GH, Xue Y, Liang Y, McGuire T, Xie XQ, Xi ZX. Xie2-64, a novel CB 2 receptor inverse agonist, reduces cocaine abuse-related behaviors in rodents. Neuropharmacology 2020; 176:108241. [PMID: 32712273 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropharm.2020.108241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2020] [Revised: 06/27/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Cocaine abuse remains a public health threat around the world. There are no pharmacological treatments approved for cocaine use disorder. Cannabis has received growing attention as a treatment for many conditions, including addiction. Most cannabis-based medication development has focused on cannabinoid CB1 receptor (CB1R) antagonists (and also inverse agonists) such as rimonabant, but clinical trials with rimonabant have failed due to its significant side-effects. Here we sought to determine whether a novel and selective CB2R inverse agonist, Xie2-64, has similar therapeutic potential for cocaine use disorder. Computational modeling indicated that Xie2-64 binds to CB2R in a way similar to SR144528, another well-characterized but less selective CB2R antagonist/inverse agonist, suggesting that Xie2-64 may also have CB2R antagonist profiles. Unexpectedly, systemic administration of Xie2-64 or SR144528 dose-dependently inhibited intravenous cocaine self-administration and shifted cocaine dose-response curves downward in rats and wild-type, but not in CB2R-knockout, mice. Xie2-64 also dose-dependently attenuated cocaine-enhanced brain-stimulation reward maintained by optical stimulation of ventral tegmental area dopamine (DA) neurons in DAT-Cre mice, while Xie2-64 or SR144528 alone inhibited optical brain-stimulation reward. In vivo microdialysis revealed that systemic or local administration of Xie2-64 into the nucleus accumbens reduced extracellular dopamine levels in a dose-dependent manner in rats. Together, these results suggest that Xie2-64 has significant anti-cocaine reward effects likely through a dopamine-dependent mechanism, and therefore, deserves further study as a new pharmacotherapy for cocaine use disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe J Jordan
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Zhi-Wei Feng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computational Chemical Genomics Screen (CCGS) Center and Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy; NIDA National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research (CDAR), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Ewa Galaj
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Guo-Hua Bi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Ying Xue
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computational Chemical Genomics Screen (CCGS) Center and Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy; NIDA National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research (CDAR), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Ying Liang
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA
| | - Terence McGuire
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computational Chemical Genomics Screen (CCGS) Center and Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy; NIDA National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research (CDAR), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA
| | - Xiang-Qun Xie
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Computational Chemical Genomics Screen (CCGS) Center and Dept of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy; NIDA National Center of Excellence for Computational Drug Abuse Research (CDAR), University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA; Drug Discovery Institute; Departments of Computational Biology and of Structural Biology, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA, 15261, USA.
| | - Zheng-Xiong Xi
- Addiction Biology Unit, Molecular Targets and Medications Discovery Branch, National Institute on Drug Abuse, Intramural Research Program, Baltimore, MD, 21224, USA.
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